JUI-F announces candidates in Punjab

Fields candidates in constituency from where PML-N Quaid may contest elections

LAHORE:

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, an ally of the PML-N, has announced its candidates for 53 national and 138 provincial constituencies of Punjab, including three National Assembly seats of Lahore, suggesting that the plan of an alliance with their former partners is yet to materialise.

According to a statement issued by the JUI-F Punjab chapter, the party has fielded candidates on around one-third NA seats and more than 40 per cent of provincial assembly seats, which includes six women candidates.

The JUI-F, a PML-N ally, is likely to enter into an election alliance in Sindh, an idea being pursued by the latter. Both parties have already entered into alliance in Shangla, K-P.

Read Political analysts say PML-N, JUI-F having ‘rude awakening’

A source indicated that prior to entering into an alliance, which meant extending its support for the PML-N in Sindh and K-P, the JUI-F wanted some space in Punjab as a quid pro quo.

The PML-N, which already has work cut for self-accommodating former PTI defectors who helped bring down the Imran government, according to the source, does not feel it has the capacity to accommodate even the aforementioned that they have been asked to assist, let alone accept new requests.

Read JUI-F warns against its ouster from parliament

Further, the JUI-F announced fielding candidates from Lahore, especially from the seat where PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif is expected to contest the election, NA-130, though nothing has been made public by the PML-N in this regard. The JUI-F has fielded Saleemullah Qadri from NA-130, NA-118 and PP-175 and Hafiz Ghazanfar Aziz from NA-128 for the upcoming elections.

Interestingly, Hamza Shehbaz is expected to contest from NA-118. Further, the party has fielded Maulana Safiullah from NA-92, Ziaur Rehman NA-56/PP16, Sajjad Wains NA-148, Muhammad Safdar Shehbaz NA-165/167/168/PP-254, and Maulana Yahya Abbassi NA-176/PP-273.